Call for fizzy drinks sugar tax in fight to stem obesity

A SUGAR TAX on fizzy drinks has moved a step closer as health chiefs battle to stem the obesity epidemic plaguing the nation.

A sugar tax on fizzy drinks could help to stem the obesity epidemic in the UK[GETTY]

With a third of all children and two-thirds of adults now classed as overweight or obese, there are growing fears that tough measures will be the only way to reduce consumption of highly addictive sugar.

Leading doctors have called for sugary drinks to be labelled with health warnings to make them as socially unacceptable as cigarettes.

Studies have shown all age groups, especially teenagers, are consuming too much sugar, putting them at risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and tooth decay, as well as bumping up health care costs.

The Government seemed reluctant to take on the might of the food and drinks industry but after two high-level meetings last week hosted by Public Health England (PHE) a tax on fizzy drinks packed with sugar is being considered as a genuine possibility.

For too long we have allowed an unregulated food industry to peddle nutritionally poor, high calorie products with impunity

Dr Aseem Malhotra

This would prove controversial for food and drink producers which have been concentrating on reducing overall calories and particularly saturated fat in products under responsibility deals signed with the Department of Health.

A proposed sugar reduction strategy will be unveiled by PHE on June 26.

A PHE spokeswoman admitted a tax on fizzy drinks could be part of the new strategy, saying: “This will be considered alongside other measures that have the potential to be effective.”

Cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra said: “For too long we have allowed an unregulated food industry to peddle nutritionally poor, high calorie products with impunity. Inaction is no longer an option.”